orthostichy

[awr-thos-ti-kee]

noun, plural or·thos·ti·chies. Botany.

a vertical rank or row.

an arrangement of members, as leaves, at different heights on an axis so that their median planes coincide.

Origin of orthostichy

1870–75; ortho- + Greek -stichia alignment, equivalent to stích(os) row (see stich¹) + -ia -y³

Related formsor·thos·ti·chous, adjective

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British Dictionary definitions for orthostichy

orthostichy

noun plural -chies

an imaginary vertical line that connects a row of leaves on a stem

an arrangement of leaves so connected

Compare parastichy

Derived Formsorthostichous, adjective

Word Origin for orthostichy

C19: from ortho- + Greek stikhos line

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012